Hi everyone it's Charlie and welcome to a very special post on the blog today.
In 2014, I graduated from Norwich University of the Arts. My time there was the perfect foundation for my career and I look back very fondly on that time. In 2024, I have decided to reimagine my original portfolio. I retained the concepts as they were, but remastered them with the skills and craft I have developed over the last 10 years.
This first project was based on a story I discovered about Carlsberg's origins from it's founder JC Jacobsen, brewing the first batch in his mothers bathtub. Looking back on the original university execution, I wish I had been brave enough to be bold and simplistic with the use of a cream ceramic bottle with copper detailings. This creates a desirable limited edition bottle of Carlsberg yet still celebrates the story.
I created an identity and editorial design for the Royal Society of Miniatures, celebrating all things small and beautiful. Looking back, I enjoyed my concepts about playing with scale but felt the 'royal' aspect was lacking. In my early sketches, I found references to using a stamp as a frame device which I think was the missing element for this brand identity.
I really liked the concept of this next project, turning Volvic into a premium water brand and focusing on the six layered filtration process as the key selling point. I felt the execution was close, it just needed to be refined to give a more elegant, beautiful finish to it.
This project for Camden Lock was the bane of my time at university. In 2013 l submitted a design based around the iconic lock gates, but was unhappy with the execution so started the project again. The following colourful, hand-drawn design in 2014 was then done but looking back I wish I had committed to making the lock gate concept work. So thats what l've done now, 10 years later. Using the vibrant colours of Camden and a bold lock gate icon.
This next piece of work was actually from my second year of university, but I loved the simple concept of pocket sized football trivia books so wanted to include it in my main portfolio. In this reimagining, I wish I had originally just made each book boldly one part of a scarf which would connect together.
I loved this project and it was a great ending piece for my portfolio. The concept was to focus on a little boat that resembles you, and Seven Seas is with you to help tackle whatever the day throws at you. The collaboration with Natty Peterkin from the BA Illustration course was a great experience. In hindsight, I wish I had been bolder and prouder with the illustrations and their placement on the packaging.
I've really enjoyed this process of revisiting my design portfolio from 10 years ago. The main thing I have learned is that for the majority of these projects I had a great solution but was not brave enough to take the leap and go for it. As creatives we are never done learning and developing our skills, so perhaps I'll revisit this again in 2034!
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